Easter: Umahi Opens One Section of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to Ease Traffic

• NSCDC deploys 57,000 personnel nationwide to secure celebrations 

•Defence chief tasks journalists on truth, unity as NUJ seeks commitment

Michael Olugbode in Abuja, David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka and Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has opened a section of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway leading to Enugu State to ease traffic along the stretch of road during the Easter celebrations.

Umahi, who was at the construction site at the Enugu end of the road, told journalists that he was instructed by President Bola Tinubu to come and open the road to ease traffic for people of the South-east, who would be coming home for Easter.

The minister, who spent time to reel out roads under construction by the Tinubu administration, said the president had given Ndigbo the Biafra they sought through massive infrastructure in the zone.

He stated, “This is the most important road in the South-east. It was inherited under MTN tax credit, and everything was on standstill until I went to cry out to Bola Tinubu. He directed that 50 per cent of it be like Lagos-Calabar coastal road.

“Before now, it used to take up to seven hours on this road from Onitsha to Enugu. The project was awarded before 2023 with no meaningful progress. So we reviewed it for MTN to continue with N202 billion, excluding 70 kilometres.

“Today, Tinubu asked me to open it to avoid suffering for the people of the South-east. We have also directed MTN to do the same thing we have done with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road, same quality. Asphalt will always fail but cement will last very well and requires minimal maintenance.”

Umahi listed several roads in the zone under construction and added, “With all these roads, I can say that the Biafra Ndigbo are looking for is here. So, in 2027, we have to be strategic. We want these roads to be completed.

“I’m David, God has told me, and I can tell you that He has said Tinubu will win again. You cannot mount the seat of presidency by foul language or mere wish, we must be strategic. Anything I tell you now, go and mark it. No matter who gets the ticket of other political parties, I want to tell you that Tinubu will win.

“The marginalisation we are talking is over. For the first time your son is the Minister of Works. So, we need our people to be vocal, we need to tell our people what the president has done. All the marginalisation we are talking about are over.”

Umahi added, “It’s not anyone who is not supporting who you are supporting, you start attacking the person. We have to be strategic. The president has done very well. You have to understand the kind of economy the president inherited, but I can tell you that the president is dealing with macroeconomics. And the worst is over.

“We, as Igbo leaders, must not support Tinubu and keep quiet, but we must tell our people what he has done. Governance is about development, infrastructure, equity, and fairness, and we have it in him.”

The minister also disclosed, as he sought votes for the president next year, “I have directed solar light, tree planting from Enugu to Onitsha. We should give Tinubu not less than 80 per cent votes in 2027. Let no one split our votes. Be strategic in voting Tinubu and no one will do anything to you.

“If you are a leader in South-east and you are not vocal about what Tinubu is doing for us, then you are not for us.  That is why he has directed me to come and open this Enugu section to avoid trailers failing at Ugwu Onyeama all the time.”